Mouth



(No Model.) v

G. Z. BARNES. MOUTH SPEOULUM FOR HORSES.

No. 472,939. Patented Apr. 12, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE Z. BARNES, OF PEKIN, ILLINOIS.

MOUTH-SPECULUM FOR HORSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 472,939, dated April 12, 1892.

Application filed November 6, 1891. Serial No. 411,103. (No model.)

and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Mouth-Speculum for Horses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in the construction and combination of metal jaws, jaw-locking mechanism, and straps and buckles, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims, and

illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which T Figure l is a top view of the speculum, showing the jaws closed upon each other. Fig. 2 is a sectional view looking outward from a central lineof the mating jaws and showing the jaws open and the inside plate of the base, to which the jaws are pivoted, removed to uncover its interior and the means for retaining the jaws locked in an open position. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view through the line w :10 of Fig. 2, showing the relative positions of the jaws and the means for operating the looking devices. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the complete speculum applied to a horse as required in practical use.

A is the lower and B the upper jaw. They conform in shape and size, and each is made of cast metal complete in one piece. Each has a lateral bend at each of its rear ends, and the ends of one jaw are bifurcated to admit the ends of the mating jaw, as required, to produce a hinged connection that will allow the jaws to-open and close.

0 and D are mating base-pieces adapted to be combined with the ends of the jaws to inclose and support the ends of the jaws, to restrict the separation of the jaws, and to inclose and support jaw-locking devices. Each base has a flange or rim f, project-ing inward, and an integral stop g, and a screw-threaded perforation that will coincide with the perforation in the ends of the jaws. The mat-ing interlaced ends of the jaws are connected with each other and pivoted to the basepieces by means of screws h. Plates 0 and D are fitted tothe insides of the piece 0 and D, and fastened thereto by means of the screws h, that extend through the ends of the jaws and into the perforations or screw-seats in the cen tral portions of the base-pieces. The plates are thus detachably fixed to the cover and conceal the ends of the jaws and to produce bearings for the pivotal screws h, that connect the jaws.

m are solid blocks fitted against the top and bottom of the fixed stop 9. Each block has an integral projection n, that extends through a corresponding opening in the base and isconnected with a lever 41, pivoted to the inside of the base.

0 is a spring connected with the long arm of the lever and the base in such a manner P represents a crescent-shaped cup formed on or fixed to the front end of each one of the jaws A and B to admit an animals teeth in.

such a manner that when the jaws are forcibly separated the teeth will engage the cups and the cups and teeth will coact in preventing any portion of the jaws from. contact with and pressure upon the gums and flesh of the mouth, as required, toprevent irritation,bruising, bleeding, and pain. In other words, the free ends of the teeth, when in contact with the cups, will prevent the jaws of the instrument from coming in contact With the jaws or the flesh of the animal, and therebyprevent irritation of the animal, and also protect the operators hand and arm from contact with the animalsteeth.

Loops r are formed on or fixed to the jaws for attaching straps thereto.

S and S are leather straps attached to the lower jaWA and adapted to be buckled around the lower jaw of an animal. S" and S are corresponding straps attached to the upper jaw B, to be buckled around the upper jaw of the animal. 2 and z are straps attached to loops 0, projecting rearward from the basepieces 0 and D, as required, to buckle them over the'top of the-head or neck of ananimal for the purpose of retaining the speculum attached to the animal.

To apply the speculum, I close the jaws and place the speculum on the horse and open his jaws sufficiently to allow his front teeth to enter the cups P and then force the jaws of the horse and the jaws of the speculum open far enough to release the spring-actuated blocks 11 and to enter the spaces between the jaws and the stops g, and to thereby lock the jaws as required to retain them open, so that the mouth and uncovered teeth and throat can be inspected and treated.

- I claim as my invention 1. A, speculum for opening andretaining open a horses mouth, comprising two jaws horse, cupsor depressions at the front and free ends of the said jaws, adapted toadmit an animals front teeth, means for retaining the free ends of the jaws separated While in an ani'mals mouth, and means for fastening the complete device to an animals head, for thepurp'oses stated.

2. In a speculum, abase-piece (3, having a flange fand stop 9, the ends of two mating jaws fitted to said base-piece and pivoted thereto by means of a screw h, a detachable cover 0 having a perforation to admit the screw 77,, a block 91, having a stein at, and a spring-actuated lever n", arranged and combined to operate in the manner set forth, for the purposes stated.

GEORGE .Z. BARNES.

WVituesses:

W. H. MoLAUcHLIN, FRED S. ZOEFER. 

